Ardently Loved: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Lory Lilian

Author:Lory Lilian [Lilian, Lory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Longbourn’s drawing room soon became animated again. With rested nerves, Mrs. Bennet continued to blame the weather and to express her hope that the gentlemen did not catch a cold.

Darcy put her at ease. “We thank you for your concern, ma’am, but I assure you, we are fine.”

“Indeed, we wanted to come earlier, but we waited for the rain to stop,” Bingley said, happily seated next to his betrothed. “I must say—I have been spoiled by having dinner at Longbourn, and I truly missed it last night.”

“How kind of you to say that, Mr. Bingley! Oh, I can hardly wait for the day when Netherfield and Longbourn will practically be one large home,” Mrs. Bennet uttered.

Mr. Bennet disagreed. “I hope the houses remain as they are—two, and separated by a distance of three miles. Mr. Bingley and Jane deserve some privacy once they are married, and it is my secret hope that we shall see them less than we do now, at least for a while.”

Jane blushed, and Bingley laughed awkwardly.

“But I confess I shall miss these days,” Mr. Bennet admitted. “In a house of six ladies, male company is something I appreciate and rarely receive.”

“I shall be happy to keep you company anytime, Mr. Bennet,” Bingley hurried to reply, and Mr. Bennet laughed.

“You will likely not remember that promise after you are married, Bingley, but it was a nice thought.”

“You will not have six ladies anymore,” Mrs. Bennet interjected with some distress. “My dear Lydia is already gone, and soon Jane will leave us too. How can a daughter’s happiness bring so much pain to a mother? My eldest and my youngest daughters will always have a special place in my heart.”

“Mama, I shall be nearby; you will not have time to miss me,” Jane smiled.

“And I thank God for that, my dear. Poor Lydia is so far away—in another part of the country! I shall see her so rarely. She cannot even come to her sister’s ball—so unfair! She loves balls so much. Fortunately, she has enough balls and parties with the officers of the regiment, but still, one more could not have hurt. My poor dear! And he is such a handsome, pleasant sort of man. He might not be very wise, but he is so young. I am sure he will remedy his mistakes. He is very well suited for Lydia—they are both so happy and like to dance so much.”

Darcy took his glass and stepped toward the window. His distress was obvious, as well as the tension that suddenly fell on the chamber. Elizabeth struggled to find a way of changing the subject before her mother had time to speak more on a matter that could bring nothing but torment.

Mr. Bennet intervened abruptly, interrupting his wife’s effusions. “Mrs. Bennet, let us be grateful to the Lord and to everyone who made it possible for Lydia to marry as she wished and for Wickham to find an advantageous commission that, hopefully, will allow him to build a comfortable living.

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